Chapter 68: Chapter 68: Unexpected Joy!
Translator: 549690339
“This…”
Looking at the Daoist robe on Xu Yang, the peach wood sword on his leg, the incense burner, and Daoist talisman on the ground, Wang Lin whispered, “Bai Wei, where did he pull all these things from? I didn’t see him carrying a bag when he arrived.”
“Storage ring!”
Bai Wei, who has evidently seen more, said, “It is said that, after the revival of spiritual aura, the country has dug up some relics in various places, among them is this kind of treasure… a storage ring. Considering Xu Yang is Xu Zhiyuan’s grandson, it’s normal for him to have one of these.”
The two communicated in low voices, retreating to the courtyard gate.
Each one of them, curiosity glittering in their eyes, wanted to see how Xu Yang would deal with “Mrs. Zhang” from a distance.
Meanwhile.
Approximately three to four kilometres away, Shanshuigou Village.
At the entrance of the village, a bus slowly drew to a halt.
“Take it slow, grandma, slow.”
“Be careful… don’t bump into anything.”
A high school-aged girl helped an elderly woman with a hunched back down from the bus, until the old woman stood firmly, only then did she return to the bus.
As the bus drove off.
Inside the bus, a murmuring conversation sparked off.
“That old woman is really amazing, at such an advanced age, she can still ride the bus by herself!”
“Yes, yes, look at her, her eyes are not cloudy, and her ears are not deaf…”
“You probably don’t know, that old woman is not simple, she lives in the township, nicknamed Mrs. Zhang, and she’s over 100 years old now…”
Mrs. Zhang’s appearance was like that of many old people.
She hunched her back, her face filled with wrinkles.
With only a few teeth left in her mouth, even in the hot summer weather, she was wearing a set of black, thick clothes. The style of the clothes resembled that of a death shroud. Worn on her, they imparted a sense of looming death.
In fact, there was indeed an absence of vitality about her.
At first glance, it seemed as if half of her body was already buried in the dirt.
At 99 years old, she would be considered of advanced age anywhere, but it could still be rationalized.
But Zhang Cuilan was different.
Thirty years ago, she encountered a master who predicted that she wouldn’t live beyond 80 and taught her several witchcraft techniques that could be used to prolong her life.
Indeed, at the age of 76, she fell severely ill and nearly died.
At that time, she was ail alone in Guizhou Province. She returned to her hometown, which she had left decades ago, in hopes of seeking help from her relatives for her old age and inevitable death.
Her brother had long passed away.
But he left behind four children.
However, none of the four nephews were willing to support her.
This bred a great resentment and hatred in Zhang Cuilan’s heart.
She began to practice witchcraft to prolong her own life.
Over the years, she has seen off more than twenty elders like Elder Hong, some due to her own meddling, and some with the family’s consent… However, strangers are still strangers after all. Taking one year of their mortal lifespan could barely prolong her life by a month.
And it would leave her entire body in a state of illness, causing great discomfort.
On the other hand, the blood of her four nephews, young and vigorous…
Their lives could place her body in an exceptionally healthy state. It’s just that this state would decline every three years… Hence, the so-called “curse” case.
Leaning on her walking stick.
Zhang Cuilan walked toward the village.
On both sides of the road were many vegetable greenhouses.
With the support of the government in recent years, the households of Shanshuigou Village have been lifted out of poverty and have stepped into a moderately prosperous life by growing greenhouse vegetables.
The hardened road in the village was very neat, lined with many green plants and even flowers.
Zhang Cuilan moved slowly.
With the three-year period about to come, her physical condition had serious issues.
At this time, familial affection and blood ties had long been tossed aside by her. What she desired was a life free from disease. For the sake of health, for the sake of life, her heart had developed an obsession bordering on madness and desperation!
She entered the village.
And sat down under a large pagoda tree.
This tree was planted by her own hands when she returned some 20 years ago.
Over the years, she had surreptitiously watered it with the blood of oxen, sheep, cats, dogs, rats and even humans countless times, which resulted in the tree’s current size.
Sitting here, she could see the homes of her four nephews.
From her bosom, she carefully pulled out a peach.
The peach was tinged with red amid its green, incredibly tender.
She placed the peach on the ground and Mrs. Zhang began the ritual.
She first raised both of her hands, swinging them back and forth, murmuring something incomprehensible, seemingly in prayer. Afterwards, she got up and began dancing around the peach like a possessed shaman.
There was not a single soul wandering the village path during the hottest part of the day in midsummer.
All of a sudden.
A whirlwind blew past.
The whirlwind picked up the dust on the ground, even causing a plastic bag to swing back and forth mid-air.
Whoo whoo whoo whoo whoo!
A massive locust tree, so lush it was hard to believe, had its branches swaying back and forth. If you listened closely, you could even hear strange sounds emanating from the tree.
At the same time.
Inside the small courtyard.
Slash!
A thick Yin energy, carrying a pungent stench and the scent of evil, began to rise from the courtyard. The Yin wind blew, causing the flame of the candle in front of Xu Yang to flicker, giving off the feeling it was about to be extinguished.
“It’s here!”
Xu Yang, who had been meditating with his eyes closed for about ten minutes, suddenly opened his eyes.
He channeled his power and stretched out a hand. Pointing a finger
“Stay!”
The flickering candle flame, finally stilled.
Then, he grabbed the two “Evil-warding Talismans” on the ground and flung them towards the rising Yin energy.
Slash!
Upon contact with the Yin energy, the Daoist talismans ignited, like cool water splashing into hot burning oil, thereby reacting instantly, crackling into flames.
The Yin energy, that had billowed up like kitchen smoke, was partially dispersed by the flame born from the talismans’ incineration.
Under the massive locust tree.
Mrs. Zhang, who had been swaying like a shaman, suddenly trembled. A strange glow appeared in her old cloudy eyes as she croaked, “Little Daoist, you dare obstruct me?”
Whoo whoo whoo whoo!
Next to her.
The branches of the large locust tree were shaking frantically.
Atop the locust tree, a substantial amount of resentment and evil spirits ascended into the sky.
Inside the small courtyard.
The Yin energy, which had been partially dispersed by the burning talismans, suddenly intensified. A massive amount of resentment and evil spirits erupted from within it. Amidst the rolling Yin energy, a hideous ghostly figure formed!
“Little Daoist, you dare to obstruct me?”
The ghostly figure’s haunting voice was filled with boundless rage and resentment. In a flash, he charged at Xu Yang.
“Not good!”
“The old witch has even raised a B-rank Yin spirit!”
“Master Xu!”
“Be careful!”
Both Bai Wei and Wang Lin’s faces changed, calling out simultaneously.
But Xu Yang.
He remained seated cross-legged, unmoving, only the corner of his mouth curling into a subtle smile.
“Just as I suspected… This old witch has not perfected her witchcraft and used an evil spirit as a vessel.”
From the moment Xu Yang entered the small courtyard.
He sensed the Yin energy and started his speculations.
However, he could not confirm them.
After all, the old witch practiced witchcraft, typically using unusual things as vessels.
Keeping an evil spirit?
Using an evil spirit as a vessel for witchcraft?
This was definitely an unexpected joy!
Seeing the evil spirit charging at him, the subtle smile at the corner of his lips slowly spread into a hearty laugh.
“Hahaha!”
He sprang up, brandishing his peach-wood sword, and took a swing at the oncoming evil spirit!